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You are here: Home / bar cookies / Salted Peanutty Brownie Bites

Salted Peanutty Brownie Bites

November 16, 2010 By Laura 12 Comments

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I made the mistake of making these bars the weekend of Halloween, inbetween trick or treat nights. In my town, the kids trick or treat twice (once in a city celebration where the local businesses open their doors to trick-or-treaters and once in the more conventional house to house setting), so the kids already had gobs of candy when I made these, and as a result I never could get them to really even give this dessert a chance. Which is a shame because they are incredible. My husband loved them but found them a tad rich. I however don’t really have a “too rich” setting, and thought these were decadent indulgence at its finest. A fellow mom tried them and pretty much groaned happily the whole time she ate one.


I got the recipe from one of those cookie magazines that are released during the holidays–but I don’t find these particularly seasonal. I think peanut butter and chocolate can be enjoyed anytime it strikes your fancy. Because they need to be stored in the fridge, I guess I would not recommend serving them when your house is really hot or at a summer picnic, much like any other buttercream-topped dessert. But even then you could eat them straight out of the fridge/cooler.


Salted Peanutty Brownie Bites
 
Print
Adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Ultimate Cookies and Bars
Author: TheSpicedLife
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Cookies
Ingredients
  • Bottom Layer:
  • 1¼ cups finely crushed graham crackers (18 full grahams)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • heaping ¼ cup salted, dry-roasted peanuts
  • ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
  • hefty pinch salt
  • Middle (brownie) Layer:
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 t vanilla
  • ¼ t salt
  • ⅔ cup AP flour
  • ½ cup peanut butter chips
  • Top (frosting) layer:
  • ¼ cup room temperature unsalted butter
  • 2 T creamy, not natural peanut butter, to taste
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 T milk (plus more to taste)
  • ½ vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • coarse sea salt for sprinkling
  • salted peanuts, optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line the bottom of a 7X11(recipe calls for) or 9X13 (I used) pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. Make the crust by placing the peanuts in a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped and add the graham crackers and pinch of salt. Process until it is all fine crumbs. Stir in the melted ½ cup butter and pat into parchment-lined pan. Press firmly and then bake for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. Leave the oven on.
  3. Melt the chocolate and ½ cup butter in the microwave on 50% power in 45 second increments. Stir until smooth. Add the sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, eggs and vanilla, and stir just until combined. Stir in the flour and peanut butter chips. Spread this brownie filling evenly over the baked crust. Bake for 20 more minutes, until the brownie layer is cooked. Set aside to cool completely.
  4. Make the frosting by beating together 2 tablespoons of the peanut butter with ¼ cup of softened butter. Gradually beat in 1 cup of powdered sugar. Add 1 tablespoon of milk, the pinch of salt and the vanilla. Gradually beat in an additional cup of powdered sugar. Add milk and peanut butter to your desired consistency and taste. You might also want more salt, but remember you will be sprinkling the bars with coarse salt.
  5. Spread the frosting over the cooled brownie layer. Sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Remove in one large slab using the parchment paper. Slice into small bars (these are very rich, small is the way to go). Press a few peanuts into each bar if desired (I did some but decided I liked them better without, I found the peanuts distracting). They keep well in the refrigerator.
3.2.2708

 

Filed Under: bar cookies, brownies, peanut butter, peanuts Tagged With: bar cookies, bars, brownies, chocolate, layered bars, peanut butter, peanuts

« Pumpkin Waffles
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Comments

  1. Paige says

    November 16, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    Oh my gosh – that first picture. Yum! I may have to try these.

    Reply
  2. Simran says

    November 17, 2010 at 12:13 am

    I dont have the too-rich setting either. These are gorgeous!

    Reply
  3. Joanne says

    November 17, 2010 at 6:24 am

    I'm 100% certain that I could die happy after eating these.

    Reply
  4. Eliana says

    November 17, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    This could not look more delicious. I'm seriously drooling right now.

    Reply
  5. A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says

    November 18, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Ooooo. That. Looks. Like. HEAVEN!

    Reply
  6. MegSmith says

    November 18, 2010 at 11:23 am

    ooo salt and peanut butter and chocolate…mmm! These look seriously fantastic. I love your blog! I just found it and if I had all day I would probably just sit here and comment on every single one of your posts. Your pictures are fantastic and your recipes ALL sound delicious.

    Reply
  7. Island Vittles says

    November 18, 2010 at 10:59 pm

    the gooey topping is unique and delicious looking. Great idea for holiday parties! Theresa

    Reply
  8. briarrose says

    November 19, 2010 at 9:17 am

    What a neat brownie. I've never thought to do a graham layer before. Yummy yummy frosting. Looks rich and delicious.

    Reply
  9. grace says

    November 19, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    i'm loving the layers here, laura–what a uniquely delicious brownie!
    as for the walking dead, i haven't watched it. i scare easily–is it too creepy?

    Reply
  10. Amy says

    November 19, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    These look soooo good! Almost like a candy bar… I want one ;)!

    Reply
  11. TheChocolatePriestess says

    November 21, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Hey, I just realized that you are just up in Indy, I'm in Bloomington. Next year I hope you can join us on our pilgrimage on the Nashville Chocolate Walk usually the 2nd Saturday of November.

    Reply
  12. Danielle says

    November 22, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    OH my gosh, yum. I love layered brownies. And your blog! all the pictures and recipes look delicious.

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Laura and I am a recovering history major who has re-channeled all of my passion for learning about the history of different countries to learning about their food culture. That doesn’t mean every dish on here is strictly authentic, but it does mean that even my adaptations are not undertaken lightly. My goal is to show you–by doing–that these dishes are possible in your kitchen. Including desserts because I have quite the sweet tooth! Read More…

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